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Advocate: Migrant visa changes welcome but only partially solve the problem

Author
Newstalk ZB,
Publish Date
Thu, 10 Sep 2020, 11:03AM
Immigration Minister Kris Faafoi. (Photo / NZ Herald)
Immigration Minister Kris Faafoi. (Photo / NZ Herald)

Advocate: Migrant visa changes welcome but only partially solve the problem

Author
Newstalk ZB,
Publish Date
Thu, 10 Sep 2020, 11:03AM

A breakthrough for some temporary work visa holders stuck overseas with strong links to New Zealand.

Temporary work visa holders with strong links to New Zealand will be able to apply to enter the country from October, with their partners and children.

Immigration Minister Kris Faafoi says around 850 temporary work visa holders with strong links to New Zealand could now enter the country - with their partners and children.

Eligibility criteria includes things like having lived here for more than two years, and still having a job here.

Association of Migration and Investment chair June Ranson told Mike Hosking it's positive and it will ease the anxiety of many people who haven't been able to come back to work.

But she says it will only partially solve the problem.

"In these people come back who have got to meet certain criteria, there are some gaps there, as they are talking about dependant children." 

Ranson says they aren't talking about the partner, and those people on work to residence visas could have lost their jobs.

She wants to see a variation of conditions to allow people with sought after skills to return. 

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